The territory of the Brest region covers an area of 23790 km ². Of these, 2040 km² belongs to the Kobrin district. Its center is the city of Kobrin, the history which will be considered in our article. It is located on the banks of the Mukhavets River (the right tributary of the Western Bug).
History
We have already figured out where Kobrin is. We will make a description of it and consider the history of occurrence further. There are several suggestions regarding the formation of the name of the city. The most reliable option is the version of the Belarusian toponymist Vadim Zhuchkevich. It says that the name of the city came from a name that disappeared for unknown reasons, the nomadic people of Obra, who inhabited this territory.
Then they moved to the central part of Europe. They created the state of Avar Kaganate in the VI century. The exact date of the city’s formation was not found by historians in historical documents.
A legend that has been preserved up to now says that the future regional center was founded by a descendant of the Kiev prince Izyaslav in the XI century on the site of a fishing village, which was located on the Kobrinka River.
For the first time, Kobrin is found in the old Russian Ipatiev Chronicle of 1287. In those days, this territory belonged to the Vladimir-Volyn principality. Since 1404 and for 115 years, the city has been the center of the Kobrin principality.
In 1589, the city received a coat of arms in the form of a shield with the image of St. Anne and the right of an elected body of self-government (Magdeburg). Since 1795, Kobrin has been part of the Russian Empire and becomes a provincial city of the Grodno province, where the construction of urban infrastructure began, which is characteristic of the district cities of Tsarist Russia.
In 1915, Kobrin, whose sights we will consider below, was captured by the forces of the Kaiser army, and four years later - by the Polish forces. In 1920, the city was liberated by the Red Army, but a year later, according to the Riga Treaty, the western part of Belarus began to belong to Poland, and the city became the center of the Polessky Voivodeship. In 1939, after the unification of the Western part of Belarus with the BSSR, the settlement finally became part of the Brest region.
The economic development of the city
Before we name the population of Kobrin, let's talk about the economy of this locality. Now this city, which occupies an area of 3150 hectares, is considered a developed industrial. Kobrin is the southern and northern regions separated by the Mukhavets River, where the main functioning enterprises are located.
This is a hydraulic engineering plant (Hydroprom). Joint production of children's toys and a variety of household products (JV "Polesie"). Production Association "Flexopack", producing plastic packaging.
In the industrial area, there are also several factories of light industry and firms specializing in the production of food and dairy products, and other manufacturing institutions.
The dynamics of the population in the city
The first census of the city of Kobrin was carried out 22 years after the city entered the Russian Empire (1817). Then 1427 people lived there.
Over the next 80 years, the number of indigenous people of Kobrin increased by 8, 980 people (10, 408). In connection with the economic difficulties of the region, emigration to the USA and other European countries began.
During this period 1655 people left Kobrin. By 1907, according to the census, 8, 753 people lived in the city. In the second half of the 20th century, the development of the city's economy began. By 1991, the population of Kobrin, compared with 1907, increased by 40, 647 people.
Now the city is home to 53, 177 indigenous citizens. And if we talk not only about the population of Kobrin, but also the region, then in total there are more numbers. 88, 037 people live in the Kobrin district.
Tourism development
In recent years, the city leadership pays great attention to the development of tourism, as the tourism business increases the potential of the city budget. There are two travel agencies in the city: BMMT (International Youth Tourism Bureau) Sputnik, located on Freedom Square, and Atlant Travel Agency (Dzerzhinsky St.).
The main activity of these institutions is the organization of eight tourist routes. The most popular route is “Ancient and legendary Kobrin”, where history and travel lovers will be introduced to the main attractions of the city.
Spassky Monastery
We have already found out what the population of the city of Kobrin was and has become. Now let's talk about the sights of this city. In the 16th century, the Spassky Monastery was built by Prince John Kobrinsky. The cloister was a stone residential and office building. Until our time, the original building did not retain its appearance, since during its existence it was rebuilt several times.
In 1596 the Union of Brest (union of Catholic and Orthodox churches) was signed, and all the estates and villages surrounding the monastery began to belong to the monastery.
During the hostilities of 1812, the monastery territory was used as a militarized fortification of the Russian units under the command of the cavalry general Count Alexander Tormasov.
In 1939, the union ceased to exist, and the monastery was closed. After some time, a district religious educational institution was opened in the former monastery monastery.
At the beginning of the XX century, the Polish authorities in the main building of the monastery carried out restoration work, after which the building was used under the Kobrin city court.
After the liberation of the city from German occupation, the district police station was located here. In 2010, the territory of the Spassky Monastery was returned to the Kobrin Diocese, which revived monastic life.
Now in the former monastery there is a female monastery. Tourists can see the main monastery relic - a list with the venerated icon of the Mother of God, "The Quick Hearing."
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Now we’ll tell you about another attraction of Kobrin, a photo with a description of it will be presented below. On the main street of the city (Lenin Street) is a cathedral built in 1864 in the name of Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The temple structure was erected at the burial place of Russian soldiers who died in the first victory over Napoleon’s troops in the Battle of Kobrin on July 15, 1812.
On five cathedral domes gilded crosses were installed, made in the workshops of St. Petersburg under the guidance of the jeweler Sokolov. The consecration of the temple dates back to 1867. In 1961, a fire occurred due to the fault of the assistant archpriest, which was the reason for the closure of the temple.
The leadership of the city then decided to open the city planetarium in the church building, then the museum of atheism was opened here, then the temple building was used as a city archive.
After 28 years, the cathedral was transferred to the Kobrin diocese, archival documents were transferred to another city building and restoration work began, after which the church was again consecrated.
Now the temple is active, where since 2006 a youth religious fraternity was created. The cathedral also has a pilgrimage department, the purpose of which is to organize trips to the holy places of Belarus.
Kobrin Assumption Church
On Pinskaya Street (modern name is Pervomayskaya) in 1513 the first wooden Catholic church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built. For more than three centuries, the temple burned repeatedly and was rebuilt after restoration.
In 1940, due to the dilapidation of the building, it was decided to erect a new stone church on this site, which was consecrated in 1943. In 1962, the church was closed, but was not destroyed.
The reason for the preservation of the religious structure is that the interior of the temple in 1864 was decorated with paintings by the famous Belarusian artist Napoleon Orda.
In 1990, at the numerous requests of Catholics, the church was returned to the diocese. Restoration work was carried out by the construction Kobrin organization "Energopol", after which the cathedral was again consecrated.
Now tourists can visit the only active church in Kobrin, attend the service, see the restored paintings of the Horde and the main shrine - the miraculous image of Jesus Christ.
St. Nicholas Church
The monument of wooden church architecture is the church building of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The first St. Nicholas Church was built around the 15th century.
In 1835, during a city fire, the church burned down and there was a need to acquire a new church, because during the spring flood of the Mukhavets river, residents could not get to the nearby church.
In this regard, the Orthodox community of this region received permission to transfer the building, which was located on the territory of the former monastery in the village of Novoselki, and install it at the place where it is now (Nikolskaya Street).
In 1961, the temple was closed, and for 28 years there was a grocery warehouse. In 1989, the church was transferred to the administration of the Kobrin diocese. At the end of the 20th century, a bell tower was built near the temple, which signaled the beginning of the service.
St. George's Church
In 1889, the St. George Church was erected on the territory of the Christian cemetery. This is another famous sight of Kobrin (photo below).
At the graveyard, which was then located on the outskirts of the city, people of different faiths were originally buried. After the construction of the church, consecrated in honor of St. George, they began to bury only Christians of the Orthodox faith.
After the revolutionary events of 1917, the church was closed, and various city warehouses were located in it. Now, in St. George's Church, which after repair and restoration has become the same form, was consecrated in 2005, services are being held. Tourists can visit the temple and see the cancer, a symbol of invincibility of the Orthodox soldiers of St. George, with particles of his relics.
The estate "Kobrin Key" in the city of Kobrin. History and description of the Military History Museum
In 1795, after the third division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Federation of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania), Kobrin became part of the Russian Empire.
In the same year, Empress Catherine II the princely estate "Kobrin Key", which included Kobrin, Dobuchin (Pruzhany) and Gorodets, presented Field Marshal of the Russian Empire Alexander Suvorov in gratitude for the suppression of the Polish uprising in 1794 under the leadership of Andrzej Kosciuszko.
The founder of military theory first came to his estate in 1797. Two months later, Suvorov was forced to leave Kobrin, since Emperor Paul I (the son of Catherine II), fearing a secret agreement against his person, ordered to move to the Konchanskoye estate (Novgorod province).
In 1800, Suvorov visited his estate for the second time, returning from a Swiss campaign, where the historical passage through the Alpine mountains was completed. At that time, the 69-year-old commander's health deteriorated, and he moved to St. Petersburg, where he died two weeks later. After death, the estate was sold to the commander’s son, Lieutenant General Gustav Helvig.
Then the heirs of Helvig sold this territory to the younger brother of the Polish poet Adam Mitskevich Alexander Mitskevich. Now on the estate's territory there is a city park, which is named after the national hero of Russia Alexander Suvorov.
The “Kobrin Key” included a one-story manor house, which has survived to this day and stands in the center of the city on Suvorov Street. It is the main attraction of Kobrin.
In 1941, during the Second World War, the house was destroyed, but in 1946 it was rebuilt, and it was decided to create a Military History Museum named after A. Suvorov in it, the opening of which took place two years after restoration work.
Now tourists can visit the historic estate, where in 1950 a bronze bust of Suvorov and the originals of cannons of 1812 were installed in front of the entrance. The pride of the museum management is the only original in Belarus of a full set of knightly armor of the 16th century and the completely restored personal account of Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov.
St. Peter and Paul Church
The history of the St. Peter and Paul Church, which was built in the 15th century, is connected with Field Marshal A. Suvorov. During Suvorov’s stay in Kobrin, the temple was near his house, which now houses exhibits of the Military History Museum.
The commander was a religious person and in this temple he sang in the church choir and read a collection of prayers to God (the psalter). Tourists, when visiting the church, can inspect the psalter, which says: "To this psalter sang and read Suvorov."
At the beginning of XX, by order of Emperor Nicholas II, it was decided to build a new temple complex and the church, which Suvorov visited, was transferred to the outskirts of the city and re-consecrated in 1912.
An interesting fact: the temple, for the sake of which the historical relic was transferred, was never built. Thanks to the name of the Russian commander, the St. Peter and Paul Church in Soviet times was not closed, and the service is held to this day.
Kobrin water park
On Gastello Street, not far from the Suvorov Park, in 2009 the Kobrin Water Park, an amusement water park, was included in the list of city sights.
For lovers of outdoor activities there are four water slides with various configurations designed for adults and children of different ages. Hydromassage waterfalls are in great demand - a tool for shoulder and neck massage.
A hydropathic center has been created in the water complex, where you can visit various medical procedures according to international standards. On the territory there are several cafes and a special cafeteria with a children's kitchen. The work of the management is aimed at making the water park not only entertaining, but also the health center of the Kobrin region.
Famous people of Kobrin
We found out the population of Kobrin. And now I would like to talk about outstanding people from this city. In 1866, the Belarusian artist Napoleon Orda for his participation in the January uprising against the Russian Empire (1863-1854) was arrested and imprisoned in Kobrin prison, after which he left for Paris.
In 1898, the poet Dmitry Falkovsky was born in the village of Bolshoi Lepesy (4 km from Kobrin). Kobrin is the birthplace of the world-famous mathematician of the 20th century, the author of algebraic geometers (a branch of mathematics combining algebra and geometry) by Oscar Zarissky.
The personal architect of Emperor Nicholas II Semyon Sidorchuk in 1882 was born in Kobrin district. From 1813 to 1816 the future author of “Woe from Wit” Alexander Griboedov was in military service in Kobrin.
Reviews
Tourists who visited the city say that its history is very interesting. They also note that where Kobrin is located in Belarus, there are many attractions. Everyone should examine them, get acquainted with their history.
Most tourists note that the friendly attitude of the residents of the regional center and the whole of Belarus leaves a desire to return again.
